INSIDE
SPORTS Mustangs top York Page 11
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NEWS Four held in Joliet homicide Page 2
Our Village, Our News
JANUARY 16, 2013
Local legislators sworn in Area legislators including Sen. issues facing lawmakers. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), She noted it will take a Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) collective effort to address the and Rep. Patti Bellock daunting challenges (R-Hinsdale) were facing Illinois— sworn during inaugural including balancing ceremonies Jan. 9 for the the state budget, 98th biennial session reducing state debt, of the Illinois General and reforming the Assembly. state’s public employee Radogno, state senator pension systems. for the 41st District, Dillard, state senator Radogno also was elected to her for the 24th District, third term as Senate named assistant senate Republican leader. Republican leader by “It’s a tremendous Radogno. honor to once again Radogno said be elected by my peers Dillard’s experience to this position, each working within state of whom is a leader in government would be his or her own right,” an asset. Radogno said. “I extend Bellock “Dillard’s familiarity my sincere appreciation with state governance to the people of the 41st extends past his notable Senate District. I consider it a legislative career to include privilege to serve them, and I his position as chief of staff to thank them for the opportunity former Gov. Jim Edgar and his they have given me to serve as role as director of legislative leader.” affairs for former Gov. James Radogno, who has served Thompson,” Radogno said. in the Illinois Senate since “These experiences provide him 1997, said she looks forward with the unique perspective to continuing to work with and institutional knowledge her legislative colleagues on See LEGISLATORS, page 3 tackling some of the biggest
Vol. 5 No. 7
Flu hits Dupage, Cook hard By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter
Submitted photo
State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) is congratulated by daughters Emma and Ava in the Senate Chamber following the Jan. 9 inaugural ceremonies for the 98th biennial session of the Illinois General Assembly.
The Chicago area is experiencing a flu outbreak that health care officials say is the worst in nearly a decade. As of Dec. 29, the DuPage County Health Department reported 38 intensive care unit-hospitalized cases due to influenza, compared to eight ICU-hospitalized cases for the entire 2011-2012 flu season. Seven influenza outbreaks have been reported in DuPage County long-term care facilities this season, health department officials said. On Jan. 7, 11 Illinois hospitals had to go on bypass status. This means that a hospital is not able to take in any more patients that do not have life-threatening illnesses, said Melanie Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman. As the week went on, only four to eight hospitals across the state were See FLU, page 2